For Sunday May 31st, 2020

Hello to everyone, 2020 is shaping up to be a year of change. In many ways we are being given the opportunity to bring the best of humanity face to face with the worst of humanity. Whether we're facing people's reactions to an impersonal virus or a very personal death, the question remains the same – what can we bring to this?

We may know immediately, or it may take some searching, but the answers are always in the same place, our hearts. Recognizing first, then looking beyond our own psychological responses of anger, sadness, numbness, despair, etc, may bring us to new perspectives. We won't know until we try.

May we sit Sunday evening for further perspectives, greater awareness, and perhaps enlightening insights. May we find out best and bring it forth, that we may be the change.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday May 24th, 2020

Hello to all of you, the pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff said that he could tell if he skipped even one day of practice; if he skipped two days of practice his critics could tell; and if he skipped three days of practice, his audience could tell. It may well be the same with prayer. 

It has been said that prayer consists of four parts, starting with:
Wonder – being in awe, humbled at the greatness, your mind and heart opened
Appreciation – thankfulness, gratitude for lessons and for what is
Forgiveness – humility, the sense of at-one-ment, desire to make things right again
Petition – to request, to ask for, whether for self or others

We focus on Sundays and Tuesdays, but let us also give some time each day to these things. May we be the change we wish to see.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday May 17th, 2020

Hello everyone, here's a story: A young boy sought to trick the 'wise one' of the village. The boy had caught a bird and was holding it in his cupped hands. "I'll ask the wise one if it's alive or dead," planned the boy. "If the answer is 'dead' I'll release it to fly away. If the answer is 'alive' I'll..." The wise one appeared just then. The boy asked his question as the wise one gazed kindly at him. Gently touching the boy's shoulder the wise one answered, "It's life is in your hands."

So it goes with each moment of our lives. Spiritual responsibility is not avoided by clever manipulations. 

May we sit this Sunday to be aware of ourselves, to see how we treat others, and to be as kind as we can be to our very own selves during these challenging times.

With Blessings for all,

Richard

For Sunday May 10th, 2020

Hello everyone, in his book "Living Your Divine Life" Orest Bedrij writes, "...if you are a majestic Giant Sequoia tree you should live the life of a majestic Giant Sequoia tree; if you are a magnificent bald eagle you should live the life of a magnificent bald eagle. Conversely, since "You are the light of the world" (Matt 5:14) you should live and help others to live the life we were all meant to live – as "the light of the world.""

May we sit this evening for us to somehow, someway, sometime, be 'the light of the world' for ourselves and for others as well.

Thank you all,

Richard

For Sunday May 3rd, 2020

Hello everyone, we're told that for most of it's existence humanity has been up against nature. Now however, there is a greater challenge. Given the current state of the world we can now see that humanity is up against it's own nature. Perhaps this will help.

Give me a pure heart – that I may see Thee,
A humble heart – that I may hear Thee,
A heart of love – that I may serve Thee,
A heart of faith – that I may abide in Thee.
- Dag Hammarskjold

May we treat the sicknesses of the world by healing ourselves. May we pray for those who provide us with our greatest challenges. May we forgive ourselves our basic humanness.

Thank you all,

Richard